Jennifer Whiteside is a Canadian politician and trade unionist who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in the 2020 British Columbia general election.[1] She represents the electoral district of New Westminster as a member of the British Columbia New Democratic Party (BC NDP). She has served in the cabinet of British Columbia since 2020, currently as Minister of Mental Health and Addictions.[2]
Jennifer Whiteside | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Minister of Labour of British Columbia | |
| Assumed office November 18, 2024 | |
| Premier | David Eby |
| Preceded by | Harry Bains |
| Minister of Mental Health and Addictions of British Columbia | |
| In office December 7, 2022 – November 18, 2024 | |
| Premier | David Eby |
| Preceded by | Sheila Malcolmson |
| Succeeded by | Ministry dissolved |
| Minister of Education of British Columbia | |
| In office November 26, 2020 – December 7, 2022 | |
| Premier | John Horgan David Eby |
| Preceded by | Rob Fleming |
| Succeeded by | Rachna Singh (Minister of Education and Child Care) |
| Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly for New Westminster-Coquitlam New Westminster (2020–2024) | |
| Assumed office October 24, 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Judy Darcy |
| Personal details | |
| Born | New Westminster, British Columbia |
| Political party | New Democratic |
| Education | Simon Fraser University |
| Occupation | trade unionist |
Biography
editBorn and raised in New Westminster, Whiteside went to New Westminster Secondary School before finishing secondary studies at Burnaby South.[3] She then attended Douglas College before enrolling at Simon Fraser University, graduating with a degree in history.[4][5]
Prior to entering politics, Whiteside held a variety of positions within the labour movement. She had worked as a researcher with the Hospital Employees' Union (HEU) in BC, the Canadian Union of Public Employees and the Conseil provincial des affaires sociales in Quebec,[6] before re-joining the HEU in 2015 as secretary-business manager, also covering duties including chief spokesperson and lead negotiator.[4][7]
With incumbent Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for New Westminster Judy Darcy declining to seek re-election in 2020, Whiteside decided to contest the BC NDP nomination for the riding.[8] After securing the nomination,[9] she was elected MLA for New Westminster on October 24, 2020 with 60% of the popular vote.[10]
On November 26, 2020, Whiteside was appointed Minister of Education in the second cabinet of Premier John Horgan.[11][12] On December 7, 2022 she was named Minister of Mental Health and Addictions by Premier David Eby.[13]
In the 2024 British Columbia general election, she stood in the new district of New Westminster-Coquitlam.[14]
Election results
edit| 2024 British Columbia general election: New Westminster-Coquitlam | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
| New Democratic | Jennifer Whiteside | 12,757 | 59.13% | |||||
| Conservative | Ndellie Massey | 6,438 | 29.84% | |||||
| Green | Maureen Curran | 2,380 | 11.03% | |||||
| Total valid votes | 21,575 | 100% | – | |||||
| Total rejected ballots | ||||||||
| Turnout | ||||||||
| Registered voters | ||||||||
| Source: Elections BC | ||||||||
| 2020 British Columbia general election: New Westminster | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
| New Democratic | Jennifer Whiteside | 15,903 | 60.25 | +8.32 | $31,579.21 | |||
| Green | Cyrus Sy | 5,020 | 19.02 | −6.05 | $18,803.70 | |||
| Liberal | Lorraine Brett | 4,291 | 16.26 | −4.94 | $9,107.81 | |||
| Conservative | Benny Ogden | 912 | 3.46 | – | $0.00 | |||
| Libertarian | Donald Wilson | 269 | 1.02 | +0.30 | $0.00 | |||
| Total valid votes/expenses limit | 26,395 | 100.00 | – | $66,123.96 | ||||
| Total rejected ballots | 146 | 0.55 | +0.16 | |||||
| Turnout | 26,541 | 56.20 | –7.41 | |||||
| Registered voters | 47,226 | |||||||
| New Democratic hold | Swing | +7.19 | ||||||
| Source: Elections BC[15][16] | ||||||||
References
edit- ^ MacLellan, Julie (October 24, 2020). "Update: NDP wins New West, Queensborough ridings - and a likely majority government". New Westminster Record. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ Zussman, Richard (December 7, 2022). "Katrine Conroy in as finance minister as B.C. Premier David Eby names first cabinet". Global News. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ Bacchus, Patti (January 14, 2021). "Patti Bacchus: Meet B.C.'s new education minister, Jennifer Whiteside". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ a b "MLA: Hon. Jennifer Whiteside". Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ McManus, Theresa (August 23, 2022). "B.C. announces "historic" investment in education in New Westminster". New Westminster Record. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ "Jennifer Whiteside". LinkedIn. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ "HEU announces new chief spokesperson". Hospital Employees' Union. April 2, 2015. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ McManus, Theresa (September 21, 2020). "Labour activist seeks NDP nod in New Westminster". New Westminster Record. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ "HEU's Whiteside to seek election as MLA for New Westminster in October 24 vote". Hospital Employees' Union. September 24, 2020. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ Zussman, Richard; Little, Simon (October 24, 2020). "B.C. election 2020: New Westminster results". Global News. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ "Premier John Horgan unveils B.C.'s 20-member cabinet". Globe and Mail. November 26, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
- ^ MacLellan, Julie (November 26, 2020). "Update: New Westminster's Whiteside 'up to the task' of education minister, says premier". New Westminster Record. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ "B.C. Premier David Eby unveils new cabinet with Niki Sharma, Katrine Conroy and Ravi Kahlon in top posts". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
- ^ "B.C. election 2024: New Westminster-Coquitlam NDP candidate Jennifer Whiteside". Tri-City News. October 10, 2024. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
- ^ Boegman, Anton (July 27, 2021). "42nd Election Report and Statement of Votes" (PDF). Elections BC. pp. 6, 222–224. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
- ^ "Election Financing Reports". Elections BC. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
External links
edit- Legislative Assembly of British Columbia - Jennifer Whiteside